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A London politician wants the city to fly the rainbow flag to show solidarity with gay rights advocates in Russia.

Coun. Joni Baechler plans to introduce a motion Monday to fly the iconic gay pride flag from the community flag pole in Reg Cooper Square for the remainder of the Sochi Games.

Already cities from St. John’s to Vancouver have raised the pride flag in a rebuke of Russia’s anti-gay laws.

“The purpose of the community flagpole is to fly flags of interest to the community, so I think it’s highly appropriate that we join (other) large municipalities across the country and show our support for diversity and inclusion and the principals that make Canada strong,” Baechler said.

The flag wouldn’t fly over the entrance of city hall — which is reserved for the flags of Canada, Ontario and London — but over the public square immediately north of city hall.

The issue was brought to Baechler by her colleagues in other municipalities, as well as by members of the London community, she said.

Londoner Shawn Adamsson wrote to councillors, London Mayor Joe Fontana and city clerk Cathy Saunders, urging them to fly the flag.

“This council has enthusiastically supported Pride events in London and I hope that you will continue to support our LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered) community by supporting the motion to fly the flag at city hall for the duration of the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games,” Adamsson wrote.

The request takes place almost two decades after London found itself in an unwanted spotlight when its then-mayor refused a request to fly the rainbow flag from city hall. That attracted a storm of protest and a Human Rights ruling against the city. It wasn’t until 2007 that London first flew a rainbow flag from city hall.